US Secretary of State Rubio Meets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang in Malaysia Amid Trade Tensions
Rubio's visit aims to renew US focus on the Indo-Pacific region amid escalating trade friction between the United States and China.
KUALA LUMPUR: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, marking their first in-person meeting at a time when tensions between the two global powers are rising.
This meeting took place during Rubio's inaugural trip to Asia since assuming his office, where he is attending the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum alongside diplomatic counterparts from nations such as Japan, China, South Korea, Russia, Australia, India, the European Union, and Southeast Asian states.The meeting between Wang and Rubio comes amid escalating trade tensions globally, driven by US President Donald Trump's tariffs policy.
This week, China issued a warning to the United States against reinstating significant tariffs on its goods next month.
Additionally, Beijing has threatened retaliatory measures against countries that strike deals with the United States aimed at excluding China from supply chains.Rubio's visit is part of an effort by the US to renew its focus on the Indo-Pacific region, moving beyond the Middle Eastern and European conflicts that have dominated much of the Trump administration's attention.
However, this initiative has been overshadowed by recent announcements of steep US tariffs imposed on various Asian countries and US allies, including rates ranging from 25% for Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia to 40% for Myanmar and Laos.In his meetings with foreign ministers from Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia on Friday, Rubio is expected to emphasize the advantages of partnering with the United States over China, Washington's primary strategic rival.
The State Department highlighted these discussions as part of his agenda.Wang has been critical of the US tariffs policy, labeling it 'unilateral bullying behavior' in Kuala Lumpur during meetings with Malaysian and other Southeast Asian foreign ministers.
He argued that such tariffs undermined the global free trade system and destabilized production and supply chains.Rubio also indicated that he would address US concerns over China's support for Russia in its conflict against Ukraine during his meeting with Wang.
He accused Beijing of supporting Russian efforts while avoiding direct involvement, according to a statement from the US State Department.The Japanese foreign minister and South Korea's first vice foreign minister joined Rubio in Malaysia on Friday, engaging in discussions about regional security and strengthening their trilateral partnership.
Topics covered included critical technologies and supply chains, energy issues, trusted digital infrastructure, and shipbuilding.
This meeting took place during Rubio's inaugural trip to Asia since assuming his office, where he is attending the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum alongside diplomatic counterparts from nations such as Japan, China, South Korea, Russia, Australia, India, the European Union, and Southeast Asian states.The meeting between Wang and Rubio comes amid escalating trade tensions globally, driven by US President Donald Trump's tariffs policy.
This week, China issued a warning to the United States against reinstating significant tariffs on its goods next month.
Additionally, Beijing has threatened retaliatory measures against countries that strike deals with the United States aimed at excluding China from supply chains.Rubio's visit is part of an effort by the US to renew its focus on the Indo-Pacific region, moving beyond the Middle Eastern and European conflicts that have dominated much of the Trump administration's attention.
However, this initiative has been overshadowed by recent announcements of steep US tariffs imposed on various Asian countries and US allies, including rates ranging from 25% for Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia to 40% for Myanmar and Laos.In his meetings with foreign ministers from Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia on Friday, Rubio is expected to emphasize the advantages of partnering with the United States over China, Washington's primary strategic rival.
The State Department highlighted these discussions as part of his agenda.Wang has been critical of the US tariffs policy, labeling it 'unilateral bullying behavior' in Kuala Lumpur during meetings with Malaysian and other Southeast Asian foreign ministers.
He argued that such tariffs undermined the global free trade system and destabilized production and supply chains.Rubio also indicated that he would address US concerns over China's support for Russia in its conflict against Ukraine during his meeting with Wang.
He accused Beijing of supporting Russian efforts while avoiding direct involvement, according to a statement from the US State Department.The Japanese foreign minister and South Korea's first vice foreign minister joined Rubio in Malaysia on Friday, engaging in discussions about regional security and strengthening their trilateral partnership.
Topics covered included critical technologies and supply chains, energy issues, trusted digital infrastructure, and shipbuilding.
